The seat will keep on going back and forth until one or the other party wises up and runs a moderate that can appeal to BOTH sides. Of course, a candidate like that doesn't exist. They're all too intelligent to WANT the job...

Speaking of greed, I can't wait for the new tax on medical equipment to kick in. That, of course, will be passed on to the health care providers, which will pass it on to the insurance companies, which will pass it on to the consumer. And again the consumer gets the bill for government greed.

"In its filing, Excellus says rate increases are being driven by a combination of higher costs and greater use of medical services and equipment by consumers."

That would be due to the now "free" preventative services, like screening tests, immunizations, and an annual physical. Not to mention the 20-somethings freeloading on their parents insurance. Of course none of that is really free. Ratepayers pay for it, whether they use the services or not.

Did the Obamacare supporters REALLY think they were going to get all that extra stuff for FREE?

Consider: The largest of the county's local government entities is the one in the most trouble. Why do so many people think that creating an even larger entity would solve that? While consolidating as the author describes would be very likely to help the city, it would drag the towns downward. And because the city is so much bigger than the towns, the new level is most likely going to be closer to where the city is now than the pie-in-the-sky level he envisions.

Bigger isn't always better. Bigger usually comes with its own set of problems that smaller can often avoid.

I'm a veteran, and neither one of them did diddly-squat for me. For which, I might add, I'm eternally grateful. The ten most-feared words in the US should be "Hi! I'm from the government, and I'm here to help!"

The problem with term limits is that you get a constant flow of inexperienced twits that are too stupid to stay away from the job and have no idea of how to avoid the pitfalls of legislation that's improperly written.

You're right, Mr. Wirth. Buying health care isn't like buying milk at all. Because of government regulation and oversight, milk is pretty much the same wherever you buy it. If you need some special kind of milk, it's exceedingly hard to find, and very, very expensive if you do find it. When it comes to milk, often the best you can do is "average," so you might as well select based on price.

With health care on the other hand, the free market currently provides you with many choices. You can choose your provider according to the services offered, the quality of the work, success rates, attitude, method of approach, and many others - including, yes, price. And if you don't like what you get from one provider, there are others that are different. So you should be happy that the special treatment your wife required is available, and you should thank the free market for it.

But, if you'd rather homogenize health care like has been done with milk, if you'd rather that most of the doctors you see perform the same standard government-approved tests, use the same standard government-approved treatments, prescribe the same standard government-approved medications, if you're willing to settle for "average" health care, then continue to support Obamacare.

Postscript to the "bottom line:" All would also be alive today if the pilot had avoided hitting the buoy in the first place. The best way to survive an accident is not to have one. From all appearances, this one was highly avoidable.

Being inattentive while piloting a fast-moving boat is a recipe for disaster, period. It's even worse at night, because boats don't use headlights. Being in a "familiar" area is no excuse. Something could easily be floating through that wasn't there all the other times you passed through there.

The pilot got careless, and the family pays the price. It's sad, but it's what happens all the time.